OUTDOOR NOTES : Election Day Looms for the Head of DFG

It has been reported that Pete Wilson spends his leisure time singing or playing golf.

Dianne Feinstein likes hiking and birdwatching.

Neither hunts or fishes, apparently, and although they are avowed environmentalists--what sensible politician isn’t these days?--the subject of California’s wildlife problems hasn’t come up in their campaigns for governor.

That leaves Pete Bontadelli’s future as director of the Department of Fish and Game in doubt. The position is appointed by the governor, and Bontadelli said he has no idea where he stands.

“I’m enough of a political realist to realize that with my past Republican affiliations, the odds I’ll be here if Dianne is elected are nil,” he said. “If by some quirk she offers it to me, I will definitely consider staying.

“If Pete (Wilson) comes in, there is a possibility. But Pete has every right to bring in his own people. I have not had direct conversations with either one of them relative to this issue.”

Bontadelli has been in office three years, which have been troubled times for the DFG. But he inherited many of the problems and would like to stick around to follow through on new programs he hopes will fix things.

“I don’t think it’s any secret, given my past history, whom I’m personally supporting in the race,” he said. “I’ve known Pete for a long time. I worked on his first campaign for mayor (of San Diego) when he was still in the Assembly. I walked precincts for him.

“But there is no commitment. I took the job knowing that it was scheduled to terminate at this point. I found myself liking it, enjoying it and, I think, doing a reasonably good job.”

Bontadelli’s biggest mistake is considered by many to be the Wildlands Program, a fund-raising scheme to charge admission to 10 restricted wildlife preserves throughout the state. Some were rather remote. Nobody came, and the program lost a bundle.

But he also has chalked up some generally acknowledged successes:

--A program to deal quickly and efficiently with offshore oil spills.

--Improved training of wardens.

--Upgrading of the license division to modern, computerized methods, which is still in progress.

--A funding program that bailed the DFG out of its recent crisis.

--Northern California water projects.

Bontadelli believes the DFG director should continue to be a gubernatorial appointee.

“Shouldn’t the governor be able to influence the policies of all the different departments within state government that he is elected by the people to do?” Bontadelli said.

Were the DFG director elected, as is Bill Honig, the state superintendent of schools, for example, “Then you would have all the conflicts and problems that come with that, and I’m not sure that’s any better,” Bontadelli said.

But he also said: “This department will never succeed unless it has someone who is politically attuned.”

Notes

OCEAN FISHING--Yellowtail are being caught in local waters, biting along the coast and around most of the Channel Islands. The abundance of squid is the reason, and captains lucky enough to get their hands on some are reporting excellent catches of yellowtail to 40 pounds. Ten anglers aboard the Sportking, out of L.A. Harbor Sportfishing, caught 93 yellowtail, most weighing between 12-15 pounds. Additionally, there have been scattered catches of white seabass. . . . Farther south, San Diego overnight boats continue to report impressive catches of yellowtail and yellowfin tuna and a few albacore in the 30-pound range. Long-range boats are doing fair for yellowtail and yellowfin tuna, but fishermen are taking impressive numbers of dorado and occasionally hooking into a large wahoo. San Clemente’s Dick Boyle, fishing aboard the American Angler, weighed in one at 73 3/4 pounds. . . . Off Baja California’s tip, sizable blue marlin are being targeted. Darrell Primrose of Cabo San Lucas’ Finisterra Tortuga Fleet, said the weekend’s Black and Blue tournament produced nearly 50 marlin topping 200 pounds. At the East Cape, Hotel Punta Colorada has reopened after the hurricane season, and the area is holding plenty of game fish. San Diego’s Larry Minegar fished three days, catching 10 dorado, a sailfish and a 250-pound blue marlin.

HUNTING--The annual CHOC Padrinos charity pheasant hunt is scheduled next Tuesday, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Raahauge’s club in Norco. The event’s hosts are former Ram Jack Youngblood and the Padrinos support group of the Children’s Hospital of Orange County. Last year’s hunt raised money to buy a neo-natal intensive care unit, used to transport newborn infants. Information: (714) 639-2252. . . . Two weeks into the black bear season, the Department of Fish and Game reported 96 tags validated, far below the quota of 1,250. The Redding area has been particularly good for hunters. The season runs through Dec. 30. Applications, limited to 15,000, are still available. . . . Lakes Barrett and Otay in the San Diego area reported good duck hunting for the season opening last weekend. At Barrett, 24 hunters bagged 84 ducks--predominantly greenwings--while at Otay, 58 hunters bagged 183, topped by cinnamon teal, mallards, spoonbills and widgeon. . . . For the first time, the DFG will allow limited-entry pheasant hunts on two Southern California wildlife areas Nov. 12 and 13. Twenty hunters each day, selected by random drawing, will be allowed onto the San Jacinto and Imperial (Wister) areas. Applications on 3x5 cards must be received at the DFG regional office in Long Beach by Monday. An applicant should note his hunting license number and desired location. The address: Department of Fish and Game, 330 Golden Shore, Suite 50, Long Beach, CA. 90802.